Aerial torpedo



M. H. HHRENHOLZ.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED MM2. 191s.

1,339,181. I Patented May4,1920.

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. M. H. FAHRENHOLZ.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 191s.

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MARTIN H. FAI-IRENHOLZ, 0F NORFOLK, NEBRASKA.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed May 2, 1918. Serial No. 232,138.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN H. FAHREN- HOLZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Madison and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tpmake and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive, and efiicient aerial torpedo designed to be launched from a sending station and having contained or inherent propelling means controlled by timing devices so that after having proceeded in a given direction which is also controllable, for a predetermined length of time, it will descend and explode either through the operation of timing means such as a fuse or by percussion or impact serving to actuate detonating caps or the equivalent thereof.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that changes in form, proportion and details may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a torpedo constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken longitudinally.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the body of the torpedo.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the timing mechanism for controlling the discharge from the gas bag and the cylinder ignition.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View showing the arrangement of the trigger or treadle with reference to a detonating cap.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the body portion or shell 10 of the torpedo is designed to be provided with an explosive charge shown at 11 of any suitable material, such as T. N. T., which may be stored in separate or individual containers or tubes as shown at 12. Also housed within the shell or casing is a motor, as, for example, of the explosion type, shown at 13, and adapted for operating the propeller 14:, the cylinders of said engine being supplied with gasolene or other fuel from a tank 15 and the ignition for the engine being supplied by batteries 16.

Arranged above and serving as a supporting means for the shell is a gas bag 17 having an outlet 18 controlled by a' valve 19 which is normally held seated by a spring 20. Connected with said valve is a stem 21 which extends to an electromagnet 22 energized by current from the battery and controlled by a timing device 23.

Any suitable construction of clock controlled timing means may be employed in this connection so that after a suitable interval of time the magnet will be energized and the stem drawn downwardly to unseat the valve 19 against the tension of the seating spring 20 to permit the exhaust of the gas from the bag 17 and thus allow the torpedo to fall to the ground.

Mounted upon and carried by the shell of the torpedo is a shoe 2A constituting an impact member and adapted to come in contact with the ground or other surface when the torpedo alights, and actuated by this shoe or trigger are the firing pins 25 for cooperation with detonating caps 26 to ignite the charges in the containers for the explosive material. Any suitable or preferred guiding or steering means may be employed in connection with the device, or if the same is launched with due regard to the direction of movement of the air, it may be caused to reach a certain distance or destination without especial means for this purpose, and when the timing device is actuated, in accordance with the period to which it has been' set, and the buoyant charge in the gas bag is liberated, the torpedo will descend and upon contact will explode as above noted.

Inasmuch as the machinery necessary to the progress of the device is housed within the shell containing the explosive material, the discharge of the latter will result in such a complete destruction of the parts as to defy discovery of the means employed to produce the indicated results, so that no information may thereby be conveyed to the enemy against which the torpedo has been discharged. It should be further noted that since the gasolene tank is positioned on top of the shell, the gasolene will be thrown upon the bag when the shell explodes and the bag burnt. The burning mass of wreckage will tend to set buildings on fire and thus do further damage to the enemy.

Having described the invention, I claim: An aerial torpedo comprising a shell, an

v explosive charge in the shell, 'detonetors positioned in the lower portion of the shell', a shoe extending longitudinally of the shell beneath the same and vhaving ring pins eX- tending through the bottom of the shell in operative relation to the detonators, supmy signature 

